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HOWARD, Henry, Earl of Northampton.
A Defensative against the poyson of supposed Prophesies.
Not hitherto confuted by the Pen of any man, which being grounded, either upon the warrant and Authority of Old painted Bookes, Expositions of Dreames, Oracles, Revelations, Invocations of damned Spirits, Judicials of Astrologie, or any other kinde of pretended knowledge whatsoever, De futuris contigentibus; have beene causes of great disorder in the Common-wealth, especially among the simple and unlearned people. Very needfull to be published, considering the great offence, which grew by most palpable and grosse errors in Astrologie … Now newly revised, and divided into divers severall Heads and Chapters.
Publisher: [London:] by W. Jaggard, and to be sold by Mathew Lownes, 1620
Stock code: 24824
Price: £2,750 Currency Conversion
First published in 1583, this second edition was published posthumously. Northampton (1540–1614) left the most remarkable body of writings of any early Stuart politician with the exception of Sir Francis Bacon. This treatise, originally dedicated to Walsingham, argued that "prophecies of wicked men are a kind of science which was never grafted by our heavenly Father" (Peck, Northampton, 220). Northampton emphasized his own religious orthodoxy while apparently aiming at the magico-philosophical circles of Richard Harvey and John Dee.
Small folio (270 × 169 mm). Contemporary panelled calf, rebacked with original label laid down, inner hinges reinforced with cloth, corners restored, endpapers sometime renewed. Head and tailpieces throughout, title page with intricate engraved border; lacking initial blank. Contemporary gift inscription to head of title page partially erased; bookplate of Robert, marquess of Crewe (1858–1945). The occasional mark here and there, early ink notation to foot of one leaf, title page folded in at fore margin to preserve the border. Binding somewhat bumped and rubbed. An excellent copy.
